Paul Simon at his worst.

i like paul simon, but this is just plain annoying, especially the stupid backing vocals

"Hey! Wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world?"

There was a hag DJ in Chicago, one Terry Hemmert of WXRT, who used to play this song just about every morning from 1986 to, oh, about 1990.  I still haven't recovered.

 romeotuma wrote: 
You sound like a broken record.

this album was the catalyst for a Brave New World

This song is soooo good for the ears...

 maryte wrote: 

And surely, therefore, you realize that just because you do like it, that doesn't make it good.

I'm astounded by the narrow-mindedness of so many of the song comments.  You may not like it, but that doesn't make it bad.  Cultural differences should not subject to that kind of judgment.

Paul Simon opened up new sonic worlds for many to explore with this album.

 eastcoast wrote: 
South African actually

Fairly valid comments on the background vocals as I'm not too into them myself. But in the context of the rest of the album it works better. I agree this is a top 20, if not top 10 album for me, but there are better cuts off it. So for me this is a solid 7. Other Graceland tracks would be an easy 9. The only thing I rated a 10 so far was Lennon's "Imagine", and that's as much for the song musically as it is for its message.

Yeah, well, I wonder why anyone would cover themselves in tattoos, but lots of folks do.  What's so hard to understand about personal or culturally specific preferences?

 wenatchee wrote: 

So fresh and original, with that punk reggae rhythm... and the lyrics are profound, as usual from Paul Simon...  only Dylan matches him in the USA...

 romeotuma wrote: 
I'm a big Paul Simon fan, with that said, IMO Graceland is my least favorite. Any other from PS is much better than this. As for the top 20. Not even in the top 500! IMO for what it is worth.

I cannot think of a reason why anyone would high-shriek like that in the background, at a sporting event, or even winning the lotto.  I'm at a loss

 romeotuma wrote: 
DUDE! Easily top 10, arguably top 5.

Not my thing at all, but that's just me.

 Hannio wrote: 

Taken in the context of the whole album, the background vocals are fine. The single song evokes some of the joy of the rest of the release. And hats off to the segue into Crosseyed and Painless!

 Misterfixit wrote:  

I get the feeling that if it was a bunch of college boys in a garage band making that "most pure of vocalizations", the musicologists would hold them in derision.  As they should, no matter who is making the noise.

 eastcoast wrote: 
African, ain't it? I'm pretty sure.

This is from an album that is a contender in the top 20 albums of all time...

The BGV's are a total blast!  Paul's got a great sense of humor and it shines in this song.  How can you not enjoy a song that asks, "don't I know you from the cinematographer's party?"
 eastcoast wrote: 

I have to agree.  The background vocals on this are atrocious.  and it doesn't matter to me that its South American style or not...its just plain annoying

 mread wrote: 

One of the worst songs on one of the greatest albums.

Not quite up to his usual stuff, is it?

 mike147 wrote: 
lmao...that is a perfect description!

proph_kivivitz wrote:

It wouldn't be a bad song if the cats humping in the background had been left off.

Oh wait those are back up singers... never mind.